This kind of knowledge and customer service is priceless. I’m in the middle of buying a boat and it so far been an absolute horrible experience I’m almost giving up.
I work in a boat shop. Came here for some added knowledge for the everlasting debate on which pitch someone should use. Awesome video, subbed and about to watch them all.
This is by far THE BEST tutorial I have ever seen on propellers. Not even in manufacturer's web pages you can find such a great information explained in such a clear way. Congratulations, keep the outstanding way of educating customer. I wish you had a branch in Texas.
Watched the video and thought it was great and decided Family Marine could help me with getting the right propeller for my boat. I called them several times on different days and all I could get is.... "leave a message"...... oh well.... Anyway, It is a great video and thanks for the info.
Your exactly right, most people don't know about propeller performance. Most think just replace the prop that's there. Get the same one. I'm one of the most people. I have a pontoon with a 60 Johnson that will do exactly what you say, it's slipping. Gets up on rpm then motor winds up high and boat slows down. Just like a transmission slip in a car. I always thought the engine was set to high and still believe that may be part of the problem. However the prop does suck air. It looks to be the original prop that came on the engine. We got it at the very end of last season and so far this season we have had tornados and floods so not much lake weather just yet. I will be checking into the prop after seeing this video. Thanks for taking the time to post.
Excellent vid. Here's one... Two props, same pitch, let's say one is 8 in. Diam. by 8 in. Pitch and the other one is 8 and1/2 in diam. 8 in. Pitch. Does the boat go faster with more diameter?
This informative video is by far the most educational and precise detail 1,2,3 and why and what for boat propeller presentation that I have ever seen!!! (and I've watched and read numerous mercury and other brand boat propeller video and articles) Thank you kindly! Also might mention elevation and hot season and cold season performance limits on outboard motors.
Thank you so much for this tutorial. Very straight to the point, highly educational, and easy to follow. The examples you give are perfect and I can honestly say that I now know the exact prop for my boat after watching this. If your shop was local to me, you would certainly have a new client for life. Keep up the great work guys!
Evinrude and Mercury are both made in Wisconsin, with long traditions of made in America. And guys like this chap really do know their stuff - generations of living in the details. Even though now in Florida, still have kids in Wisconsin. Currently in the process of replacing an outboard engine on one of my boats, and found this very informative, reflecting back on propeller mistakes in the past - that he describes.
your 1/2 right lol.......evinrude wont be made anywhere ....BRP.....STOPPED PRODUCTION END OF THE LINE ..... technically evinrude plant was in waukegan , IL.
I have a little old Honda 8hp 4 stroke on my 16' aluminum Sylvan. I'm looking at getting a new propeller because I cannot get the boat to plane out I tried all different trim positions and it won't do it unless I move myself towards the middle seat of the boat then it goes from about 6 or 7 mph bow sky high to about 14 mph and planes nicely, like a whole new boat! Thanks for this video.
Love how he pushed those stainless steel props saying I won't cost nothing insurance will cover it please spend money in my store. But on the other hand that was a great insightful video you are very knowledgeable and I learned something
Wow, very informative and easy to understand. I was looking for some info on a prop choice for my new 90 Mercury and now I feel a bit more prepared. Thanks
At 13:13, he says, " This is what we call a forged propeller". As far as I remember, forging is heating it and bashing it with a hammer to form it. Casting is a case of melting the metal and pouring it into a mold. This is the manner they make propellers either gravity fed sand molds or ceramic molds with a wax replacement or injection systems.
Hi i wonder if I can ask you 1 thing. Have a holland steel boat about 12 tonns. New was whit 60 70hp and i dont know gearbox aksel and propeller. Upgraded 1996 to volvo penta tmd31A ore tmd31B. Papers on both in a 1 ownder sens 1981. But this new propeller is wrong i belive.. Aksel goes stright back and on to a propeller. I do have exact propeller diameter way, and I belive this pitch. Not really shure. But I am out traveling whit the boat, but not in boat now. But if you can help me whit ur knowdleg and smart brain, I send it to you all info i have. Problem is when them goes from 60 70 ore 80hp 3selyndret diesel, TO A VOLVO PENTA DIESEL TMD31A. Them sey from penta it is "probably" right. But them alsow telling me that ore this spesific diesel engine goes lowest on diesel in like 3600RPM. YES 3600 RPM. Have tryed that, but thats sucks and when i hsve had 100eds of diesel cars and engine over the time, I like it more about 1800 to 2400 at max. 1800 to 2200 is the same speed in knots. But low like 5.0 knots . If I goes babans and drive 2400 ore say max 2500rpm. It will make 6 knots. But some are noy right here i belives. Can i get your thinking of this now after see ur awsome video ???? There is a tumb of roul that have to Spear so much spare over topp of propeller to floor of boat. I think i heard this in european COUNTRIES hsve to be 10 centimeter??? From topp of blade to hull of boat ???? Maby more pitsh so i lower rpm more and can drive at 1800rpm like all european fishing boats ???? My boat is holland curtevene 950. 9.5 meter. 32 33 feet ? It is a famely cruiser ore famely hollydays boat. I Just made it over to cabin/aparmant on the sea. And pensjonist cos of a broken back. So my dream for 19 years now have bean traveling down european waterways from norway to MIDELTERAINEN and around there. And as a 40 year of have hsd diesel trucks and cars. IT GETS HARD FOR ME TO USE RPM THATS PAPER SAYS. HAVE TO BE BETTER WHIT LOWER RPM ??? AND WHIT SAVING OF DIESEL??? PAPER FOR ENGINE ACTUALY SAYS GOES LOWEST CONSUME AT 3600RPM. BUT THIS HAVE TO BE IN A PLANER BOAT ????? SHULD BELIVE LOWER RPM MAKES LOWER CONSUME ??? I CAN BE WERY WRONG. BUT HOPE YOU CAN SHARE SOME OF UR THINKINGS ???? HEAVY BOAT AT 12 TONNS ABOUT THAT ZISE. BUT NO ONES CAN MAKD ME ANY RECOMENDINGS ORE ANYTHING. SO NOW I KROSS MY FINGERS THAT YOU CAN GIVR ME SOME POINTERS. WILL HAVE ALL SPEC AT ENGINE AND PROPELLER LITTLE LATER TO DAY. AND NOW I AM IN HOLLAND THAT HAVE SOLAS PROPELLERS FOR SALES. ANOTHER ONE, HAVE PROPELLERS MADE HUGE INPROVMENTS LAST YEARS?? I KNOW MOTOR THST WAS HERE BEFORE 60 70 HP ABOUT. SAY 80 TO BE SAFE. BUT THEM SOLD ALL WHEN VOLVO PENTA WHIT PENTA GEARBOX SHAFT AND PROPELLER NON ONE CAN TELL ME HOW IT SHOULD BE. ALSOW GEARBOX I DONT KNOW HOW THIS IS GEARED TOGETHER. THATS SAYS ON THE GEARBOX MABY ???? I REALLY HOPE YOU ONE OF THIS DAYS IN FUTURE CAN GIVE me some pointer. Will see after ur coment daily 😂🎉😂❤❤❤ Propp is 21 i tvink left Turned and some number for pitsh. Have had some boats before. But use to go BETWEEN 6 7 8. Not down in 4.5 to 5 on normal power. If gives more power, the ladys Ass just going down and ur diesel consume gets way up there. And all boat yards and shop all say strange, cos over power motor and still slow and not up BETWEEN 6 8 them say them belived i would get to be in that range.
I have a stratos bass boat 15.5 feet long with Yamaha 55hp 2 stroke, I can't seem to get it on plane and rpm seems very low will downsizing my prop help? I'm almost thinking my timing isn't advancing. Just bought the boat runs amazing.
I have a 350 Chevrolet v8 motor with an Alpha one tranmision and currently using a 23 Prop, not giving me enough RPM! what prop am I supposed to use for this motor and transmission?
Hello Family marine I have a 21ft fishing boat with F100hp efi merc it has a 13.25 x17p prop engine tops out at 5000rpm would you know if this is the correct prop for the boat thanks
So what is the correct size and pitch etc prop for a 1993 Maxum 1800 sr with 4.3 liter and alpha one gen 2 outdrive. I bought the boat in the fall and it had a very chewed up prop. It was an aluminum prop and I had to file it off to get the chewed up parts cleaned up enough to even test drive the boat. It seemed to have a vibration so we didn't push it too hard but it seemed really poor out of the hole so I didn't want to put any trust into the prop size that is on it.
Hi there. Very nice and informative video. I have a small rib, 4.5m, with an old mariner 40hp 2stroke. It really really struggles to come to a plane with two (large) people on board, and I would ultimately like to be able to come to a plane easy with 3 people on board. My top speed is 28 knots but I don't really care to go that fast with that small of a boat. My prop is a 13 pitch and I am thinking of going to an 11. Any thoughts? Thank you!
I have a bass tracker 16.8 with a 50 hp merc. 4 stroke. Running at 4600 ft altitude it only runs about 5000 - 5100 rpm. it has a 12x22 prop. what can I do to get more performance from this boat? Thanks ,Roger
Very good video ive owned 17or 18 boats so far always used O,E, M. Props prefer Aluminum as a safety feature of sacrificing a prop tp save my outdrive or lower end My preference has been inboard /outboard Mervruiser or Yamaha outboards yet ive had good luck with Nissan/Io gatsu products as well for overall reliability and maintenance although they aren’t the fastest motors in their class they have been a good value to me Ive always stressed the same thing to my freinds about the numbers on props you will. Gain one but lose the other in the process many of my boats hav been Ski boats for myself and my family as A Florida jud Waterskiing was a passion and as i got older i enjoyed a lot of wakeboarding as it was easier on my knees
I’m new in boating. What information do you need from me in order to purchase the right prop? I have an 18 foot pontoon, with a 50 hp 4 stroke motor with a white coloured aluminium prop. How do I order the perfect pitch for my motor? What do you need to know in order to asses my need? Thank you
This was great information. I run a mariner 60hp 4 engine on my rib. My boat is like 5.2meters long. What is the best pitch for its size? How can i tell if my engine is a bigfoot or not?
How does ainboard outboard engine rated 170hp@3800rpm compare in relation to propellers vs something like a 170hp@6000rpm outboard compare. Leads me to believe inboard has way more torque down low. So could I push it with a higher pitch vs the outboard?
21ft 96 Wellcraft bow-rider/ 4.3 v6 Mercruiser alpha1, bought it with out a prop. I was gonna use it for up to 8 passengers. At the time I didn't know the motor was locked up, but be nice to know what the ideal prop is for it. Hopefully I can find another power-plant for the project.
so I have a 20' fishing Barge pontoon with an aluminium propeller that has an 11 pitch and 14 inch. this is for a mercury 60hp Bigfoot engine, this is what Bass Pro Shop. Which is the correct propeller for this engine?
Hello, what type (3 or 4 balded) and which pitch (17 or 19) PROP would You recomend for a 1988 Bayliner 2250 Cobra with 5.7 (loaded weight 3KP) it has 260 HP ? I was searching at www for an answer for a long time and looks there is no real one answer. At the moment we do use 3blade 17 pitch and thinking going for 4blade 19pitch - we do think that would save some RPM and fuel consumption at the "cruising range". The question remain, wont we overload the engine ? what would be Your recomendation ? Thank You for Your help. Best regards from Europe.
Very good video. Just for your information to Forged is the process of hammering a piece of red hot steel. As a blacksmith would hammer out a horse shoe. Propellers are made in a foundry by melting aluminum or stainless steel and pouring it into a mold. Many propellers and and hand guns are made in a molding process called loss the wax method or investment casting. I'm sure there are videos on UA-cam about this process. Not trying to knit pick A lot of people are confused with the difference between foundry an forge. Once again thanks for the great video,
I have a 2017 Sun Tracker 20ft fishing barge and I need to replace my prop. The current prop is eaten up by gravel. This was my “learning” prop, as I’m new to boat ownership. The motor is a 2017 90 ELPT CT 4S with a 16” x 13p p/n: 78114A45. I’m considering moving up to a 14” x 12p p/n: 8M0084491 4 blade prop. The pontoon holds 10 people and I constantly have 10 people, mostly large adults. Do you think that would be a good prop choice?
I currently have a mercury 150 4 stroke with a 14.5 x 19 mercury black max prop. I'm having issues with control at WOT. Chine walking.... I am near the top of the rev range but may have a LITTLE room to go up in RPM. I found a 13 x 18 pitch stainless. I'm wondering if this would help with control? My boat is a 19' bowrider but has a shallow vee. It seems lighter than my old boat which was a 1991 with a 4 cyl 3L Cobra and it was only a 17'. The boat currently does about 52 mph wide open so I probably can afford to lose a few mph.
good morning Tom THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION AND WELL EXPLAINED, I have a 2019 triton 18TRX WITH A 2019 MERCURY PRO XS 200HP AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING A ALUMINUM PROP WHAT WOULD BE YOUR RECOMMENDATION THAT WOULD GIVE ME THE BEST POSSIBLE PERFORMANCE AND HOLE SHOT
This is the absolute best presentation I have ever heard on the subject of choosing the right prop & pitch!! I wish you had been my dealer several years ago... The two I dealt with did not have a clue... :( .. I had to learn the hard way which cost a lot of $$$$ & time. This was a commercial boat also... Which resulted in lost revenue before I finally figured it out myself. Thank you again for this excellent video!!! :)
Good information .It is so hard to get folks to understand the truth. Everything is a trade-off in regards to performance. Nailed it. Only caveat OEM Aluminum props are Cast (exactly what process is ??) Liquid metal into a mold is cast. Solid using thermal and mechanical is forged. Those cheap props ? Cheap cast pieces welded together , not sure what to call that. Besides junk.
Wow! Tom, in just the two videos I watched of you (trailer and prop Part I), you have established yourself (and therefore Family Marine) as subject matter experts. You would be my go-to for any purchases or questions. Thank you for continuing to be so responsive in the comments as well. Solid paced voice/tone/articulation makes your videos very easy to follow and understand. Great job!
Great video thanks appreciate it. Going through this process in Oregon with my new boat now. Dealer put a Michigan ballistic 14.75 x 17 on my new Verado 225 with 5800-6400 max RPM specs. Trimmed correctly on initial run we had 5500 max RPM at 43 MPH. I put a Michigan Ballistic 15 x 15 on it and got it up to 5800 RPM. I finally took it to the dealer and had them and Mercury rep take it out for testing. Motor was running properly but they observed that the Verado was running to deep in the water at plane. They raised the motor 2" on the rail to second spot from the top and we went to 6150 RPM and 47 MPH. He also said that the dealer should have installed an OEM Mercury Enertia 15 x 15 prop as well, and that we will have even better performance. He said Verados don't like to run low in the water. This is all new to me as a new retired boater, thankfully they are addressing it.
@@FamilymarineboatsMN its a bit of a science the dealer needs to know his boats .....some hulls like the motor up a smidge some like it buried depends on the hull and the dealer needs to be familiar with these differences
Hi I have a Volvo - Penta 3 blade propeller on a chevy v6 4,3 motor which has a 14.3 x 21 propeller and is 18 ft long bow rider. I want to replace it with a 4 blade propeller to get more torque out of the hole and get it to a plane quicker. I am not concerned with top end so much as I am getting out of the hole faster. What size and pitch would you recommend?
Hello i have Honda BF90 4 stroke installed on my 24 ft pontoon. I want to ask which propeller dimensions are better for my outboard. 13.8 x 13 4 Blade Mercury spitfire or 13.4 x 15 4 Blade Mercury spitfire ? I drive my pontoon very often loaded with 11 persons. Some help ?
Very informative video! Wish you were in the Wilmer near me on Mobile Bay, Lower Alabama. I just bought a 2001 Sea Hunt Escape 200 with a 150HP Yamaha 2 stroke rebuilt in 2010 that has had its 3 blade tips ground off of a Michigan Wheel Ballistic 345931 14-7/8" Diameter, 15 Pitch, Right Hand Turn, 15 Spline Stainless Steel that needs more help than the Trim Tabs can provide getting on a plane.
Hello great info for beginners, got a question , just bought a used 2005 Bayliner 185 ,with MCM 4.3Lt v6 engine and alpha one stern drive , it came without a propeller , what is the factory specified propeller for it and what would you recommend , thank you much , Bob Alabama
Hi, I have Fiberglass boat 5.5 meters 650kg, on it I have Mercury Optimax 115hp, 2008. year with prop 13.25x17. maximum rpm is 5750 at speed 28knots. Can you recommend me another prop to get more speed at 4000rpm, because I ofen use it on that rpm with wife and 2 kids? Regards
Ok i have a 1988 mako 171 sport with 9o mercury elpto, i run wot 5ooo rpm iam about 33mph, prop is ss prop was 17 repitched to a 15 from what i gather to be able to push alot of weight i feel i need to reprop to get to that 5500rpm motor is 89 mercury elpto thanks for any help?
Hi , I have a 24ft avalon tritoon with a 150 merc efi . we mainly use it at 5500ft elevation and the boat is somewhat loaded down with beach gear. after 3 props i finally got the motor to hit proper RPMS , went from 16 pitch to 13pitch all merc aluminum props , now they gave me a black max 16 " dia x 12 pitch . boat has much better holeshot , but i noticed when i trim it up a little it still ventilates or cavitates but nothing like the 13pitch . The boat does fine with just me and my two daughters , but when i added two extra people and there gear it seemed more noticeable . we mainly use it to pull kids on tubes and cruise around lake with family . top speed is not important. after watching your great video , I'm wondering if i should switch to 4 blade or stainless ? today we are going to use tube and see how this prop does. thank you for your help
Thank you for the information.. I operate a 24ft fibreglass boat with twin 70HP Tohatsu and need assistance to to 90-100HP . I live in Papua New Guinea.
I would like to see if you could recommend the correct propeller for my boat. I have a 24' pontoon approx (1900 lbs) with a 60Hp big foot merc 4 stroke with a 10 pitch (3 people on boat at the time) propeller. It will rev out at 6300 rpm and 15 mph. Looking to go faster and not have to change motor. Possibly change propeller
Great advice. What about switching from a 3 blade to a 4 blade on a 30hp Johnson that is running a 10x15 3 blade prop. I do alot of small river fishing and need a great holeshot for that skinny water. Normally 2 guys and a livewell full of cats. 1754 Grumman mod v flatbottom
I always looked at props in a very simple way diameter = torque, pitch - top end horsepower, but never knew aluminium flexed so much great video thanks
I need your help. I have a mercury mercruiser 1.7 liters 120 horsepower Diesel engine with alpha 1 gen 2 from 2001. What propeller do you recommend? The boat is a Angler 2100 Walkaround. Please I need your help.
I have a 2005 Bayliner 185 with a 3.0 Mercruiser. What would the optimal propeller be for my boat. Im more concerned about holeshot than top end due to pulling skis
I have a 2006 mercury optimax 150 ? What do suggest on a 4 blade ss ? I have a 3 blade it's good just want a 4 blade for rough water heard u have more control with 4 blade true or false ? And if true what size and how much thank you for ur time have a wonderful day and stay safe
Hi hello I wanna ask you if you can help me with my motor. I have a fiberglass 18ft 1998 Nitro. With a 1998 120hp tracker by Mercury and Manufacture top RPM is 5250 And right now I have a 14 inch 17 pitch and I roughly do top speed of 40-50 mph but I have a lot of problems getting out of the whole a 30 gallon tank on the back and 10gal live well on the back to what prop would you recommend on my motor
A great informative video about props, after thinking i was upgrading to a stainless prop for my mercruiser 3.0Litre with Alpha 1 on a bayliner 190, from having an aluminum prop. I first found that i could not even get on the plane with just 3 people on board, just getting 3600 rpm at full throttle, i was baffled. watched some you tube vids and purchased tabs for my boat that are to help lift it onto plane faster. I got it on plane after 4400 rpm still on low side. but with 6 people it was back to 3600 rpm no chance of getting it on plane. Then prop hit something submerged and wrecked the drive on prop. Now after watching this i am aware that i should have dropped my prop pitch by 2 inches to start with. I think i will be now going back to the aluminum prop and dropping pitch because for my application it is important to get it on the plain as quick as possible for fuel economy top speed isnt whats important. Great vid guys thanks for posting
Hey there John. Did you end up dropping the prop? I’m having the same issue on my 2017 Bayliner vR5 4.5 200Hp mercury. Can plane out with only 2 people sitting in the back. Any luck improving that issue on your boat?
Thanks for taking the time to your share your video and knowledge with us. It is really appreciated! I have a 5 mtr. RIB with (x2) 40 hp Enduro outboard motors (5500- 6000 rpm. max.), both have three blade props 11 3/8 x 12. The Boats max load capacity is 1 ton and although I am no way any where near that at all, it seems slightly heavy at the transom, once she is loaded up with dive gear, since it is very sluggish, to get up on the plane. I am looking to increase the power, for towing applications, as we are doing small salvage operations. From what you were saying, it seems that a 4 Blade prop is the way to go, but I have not seen any for this size of motor. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks! Kind Regards!
WOW! Loved the video I feel that i learned quite a bit about props. I have a 20FT Shearwater Center Console. With 3 grown men in the boat, it takes forever to get on plane. With one person it takes about half as long. I had a 19pitch 3 blade prop, someone gave me a 19 pitch 4 blade prop (non oem) They were like 4 blades would get the boat out faster. Low and behold that did not happen. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
What is your motors max rpm based off the manufacturer website? What is the rpm it runs when trimmed with you at full throttle? For every 200 additional rpms available to the max rpm, decrease the pitch by 1. If you carry extra weight often, runt the boat with the that load and check the rpm and go from there. I would stick with a 4 blade, since you add substantial weight and have planing issues. Just remember not to let the boat run past the max rpm.
@@srlewis76, Thanks for the reply. I was able to find a local prop guy. After watching your video. Applying the math to my situation. I figured a rough estimate based on the shop telling me 5900rpm was the max. I have learned not to trust the shops all the time. I went to the manufacturing site and found out that the max was ~6300 RPM at full throttle. The shop just assumed because it would not reach max with the prop that I had on there. I took into account the size and estimated weight of 3 people and gear on the boat. I ended up figuring a 16 or 17 would get the job done. and leave me at about 6000 RPM. Then talking with the prop shop here and showing him a video of a 19 that was on the boat. He said 15 pitch 4 blades and you will hit about 6200. They were spot on. Thank you so much for your video. Without the story about the mercurys on the pontoon boats I would still be 100% lost.
This kind of knowledge and customer service is priceless. I’m in the middle of buying a boat and it so far been an absolute horrible experience I’m almost giving up.
Yes give up.
This is very informative if you can sit down and understand all the technical stuff. Thanks for the video
I own a propeller repair shop and have to say this is one of the best videos I've seen to explain how they work to the novice boater
i agree that
Finally, a video on props with a speaker who knows his business. Well done !
Your explanation on the nuances between blade types and factors was really well explained.
I work in a boat shop. Came here for some added knowledge for the everlasting debate on which pitch someone should use. Awesome video, subbed and about to watch them all.
This is by far THE BEST tutorial I have ever seen on propellers. Not even in manufacturer's web pages you can find such a great information explained in such a clear way. Congratulations, keep the outstanding way of educating customer. I wish you had a branch in Texas.
Watched the video and thought it was great and decided Family Marine could help me with getting the right propeller for my boat. I called them several times on different days and all I could get is.... "leave a message"...... oh well.... Anyway, It is a great video and thanks for the info.
Your exactly right, most people don't know about propeller performance. Most think just replace the prop that's there. Get the same one. I'm one of the most people. I have a pontoon with a 60 Johnson that will do exactly what you say, it's slipping. Gets up on rpm then motor winds up high and boat slows down. Just like a transmission slip in a car. I always thought the engine was set to high and still believe that may be part of the problem. However the prop does suck air. It looks to be the original prop that came on the engine. We got it at the very end of last season and so far this season we have had tornados and floods so not much lake weather just yet. I will be checking into the prop after seeing this video. Thanks for taking the time to post.
This is THE MOST informative video I’ve watched on this subject. It’s all crystal clear now. Thank you so much for explaining so thoroughly. 🇨🇦👍🏼
You are a great explainer, with much didactic ways.
Salutations from Baja California Sur.
Excellent vid. Here's one... Two props, same pitch, let's say one is 8 in. Diam. by 8 in. Pitch and the other one is 8 and1/2 in diam. 8 in. Pitch. Does the boat go faster with more diameter?
This informative video is by far the most educational and precise detail 1,2,3 and why and what for boat propeller presentation that I have ever seen!!! (and I've watched and read numerous mercury and other brand boat propeller video and articles) Thank you kindly! Also might mention elevation and hot season and cold season performance limits on outboard motors.
Thank you so much for this tutorial. Very straight to the point, highly educational, and easy to follow. The examples you give are perfect and I can honestly say that I now know the exact prop for my boat after watching this. If your shop was local to me, you would certainly have a new client for life. Keep up the great work guys!
This is a very valuable presentation. I really learned alot. Thank you.
Evinrude and Mercury are both made in Wisconsin, with long traditions of made in America.
And guys like this chap really do know their stuff - generations of living in the details.
Even though now in Florida, still have kids in Wisconsin.
Currently in the process of replacing an outboard engine on one of my boats, and found this very informative,
reflecting back on propeller mistakes in the past - that he describes.
your 1/2 right lol.......evinrude wont be made anywhere ....BRP.....STOPPED PRODUCTION END OF THE LINE .....
technically evinrude plant was in waukegan , IL.
Proof that you cant beat experience ... thanks - great video
I have a little old Honda 8hp 4 stroke on my 16' aluminum Sylvan. I'm looking at getting a new propeller because I cannot get the boat to plane out I tried all different trim positions and it won't do it unless I move myself towards the middle seat of the boat then it goes from about 6 or 7 mph bow sky high to about 14 mph and planes nicely, like a whole new boat! Thanks for this video.
Hole shot and top speed are great, but what about fuel consumption and longer distance cruising?
Love how he pushed those stainless steel props saying I won't cost nothing insurance will cover it please spend money in my store.
But on the other hand that was a great insightful video you are very knowledgeable and I learned something
Wow, very informative and easy to understand. I was looking for some info on a prop choice for my new 90 Mercury and now I feel a bit more prepared. Thanks
Very good teacher with truthful information Thank You
Appreciate your guidance. Well done and very informative.
At 13:13, he says, " This is what we call a forged propeller".
As far as I remember, forging is heating it and bashing it with a hammer to form it.
Casting is a case of melting the metal and pouring it into a mold. This is the manner they make propellers either gravity fed sand molds or ceramic molds with a wax replacement or injection systems.
Hi i wonder if I can ask you 1 thing.
Have a holland steel boat about 12 tonns.
New was whit 60 70hp and i dont know gearbox aksel and propeller.
Upgraded 1996 to volvo penta tmd31A ore tmd31B.
Papers on both in a 1 ownder sens 1981.
But this new propeller is wrong i belive..
Aksel goes stright back and on to a propeller.
I do have exact propeller diameter way, and I belive this pitch. Not really shure.
But I am out traveling whit the boat, but not in boat now.
But if you can help me whit ur knowdleg and smart brain, I send it to you all info i have.
Problem is when them goes from 60 70 ore 80hp 3selyndret diesel, TO A VOLVO PENTA DIESEL TMD31A.
Them sey from penta it is "probably" right.
But them alsow telling me that ore this spesific diesel engine goes lowest on diesel in like 3600RPM. YES 3600 RPM.
Have tryed that, but thats sucks and when i hsve had 100eds of diesel cars and engine over the time, I like it more about 1800 to 2400 at max.
1800 to 2200 is the same speed in knots. But low like 5.0 knots .
If I goes babans and drive 2400 ore say max 2500rpm. It will make 6 knots.
But some are noy right here i belives.
Can i get your thinking of this now after see ur awsome video ????
There is a tumb of roul that have to Spear so much spare over topp of propeller to floor of boat.
I think i heard this in european COUNTRIES hsve to be 10 centimeter??? From topp of blade to hull of boat ????
Maby more pitsh so i lower rpm more and can drive at 1800rpm like all european fishing boats ????
My boat is holland curtevene 950.
9.5 meter. 32 33 feet ?
It is a famely cruiser ore famely hollydays boat.
I Just made it over to cabin/aparmant on the sea. And pensjonist cos of a broken back.
So my dream for 19 years now have bean traveling down european waterways from norway to MIDELTERAINEN and around there.
And as a 40 year of have hsd diesel trucks and cars. IT GETS HARD FOR ME TO USE RPM THATS PAPER SAYS.
HAVE TO BE BETTER WHIT LOWER RPM ???
AND WHIT SAVING OF DIESEL???
PAPER FOR ENGINE ACTUALY SAYS GOES LOWEST CONSUME AT 3600RPM.
BUT THIS HAVE TO BE IN A PLANER BOAT ?????
SHULD BELIVE LOWER RPM MAKES LOWER CONSUME ???
I CAN BE WERY WRONG.
BUT HOPE YOU CAN SHARE SOME OF UR THINKINGS ????
HEAVY BOAT AT 12 TONNS ABOUT THAT ZISE.
BUT NO ONES CAN MAKD ME ANY RECOMENDINGS ORE ANYTHING.
SO NOW I KROSS MY FINGERS THAT YOU CAN GIVR ME SOME POINTERS.
WILL HAVE ALL SPEC AT ENGINE AND PROPELLER LITTLE LATER TO DAY.
AND NOW I AM IN HOLLAND THAT HAVE SOLAS PROPELLERS FOR SALES.
ANOTHER ONE, HAVE PROPELLERS MADE HUGE INPROVMENTS LAST YEARS??
I KNOW MOTOR THST WAS HERE BEFORE 60 70 HP ABOUT. SAY 80 TO BE SAFE.
BUT THEM SOLD ALL WHEN VOLVO PENTA WHIT PENTA GEARBOX SHAFT AND PROPELLER NON ONE CAN TELL ME HOW IT SHOULD BE.
ALSOW GEARBOX I DONT KNOW HOW THIS IS GEARED TOGETHER.
THATS SAYS ON THE GEARBOX MABY ????
I REALLY HOPE YOU ONE OF THIS DAYS IN FUTURE CAN GIVE me some pointer.
Will see after ur coment daily 😂🎉😂❤❤❤
Propp is 21 i tvink left Turned and some number for pitsh.
Have had some boats before. But use to go BETWEEN 6 7 8.
Not down in 4.5 to 5 on normal power.
If gives more power, the ladys Ass just going down and ur diesel consume gets way up there.
And all boat yards and shop all say strange, cos over power motor and still slow and not up BETWEEN 6 8 them say them belived i would get to be in that range.
jussst a curious question but i have a marlon sp14 and honda 9.9 what is the best pitch for this setup ?
I have a stratos bass boat 15.5 feet long with Yamaha 55hp 2 stroke, I can't seem to get it on plane and rpm seems very low will downsizing my prop help? I'm almost thinking my timing isn't advancing. Just bought the boat runs amazing.
This information on propellers is great for a new boat owner like me. Thanks!
I have a 350 Chevrolet v8 motor with an Alpha one tranmision and currently using a 23 Prop, not giving me enough RPM! what prop am I supposed to use for this motor and transmission?
Have to agree with Barry Bebenek; the most informative video on props I've ever watched.
Great work Tom! I am very much a "boat guy", mechanically inclined, and I learned more about props in your video than the rest of my life combined!!
Excellent explanation of propellers now if I can just figure out what inserts are all about I’ll know something thank you very much
Hello Family marine I have a 21ft fishing boat with F100hp efi merc it has a 13.25 x17p prop engine tops out at 5000rpm would you know if this is the correct prop for the boat thanks
So what is the correct size and pitch etc prop for a 1993 Maxum 1800 sr with 4.3 liter and alpha one gen 2 outdrive. I bought the boat in the fall and it had a very chewed up prop. It was an aluminum prop and I had to file it off to get the chewed up parts cleaned up enough to even test drive the boat. It seemed to have a vibration so we didn't push it too hard but it seemed really poor out of the hole so I didn't want to put any trust into the prop size that is on it.
What is the recommended for a 79 evinrude 70hp? Is in a 16' bass boat...
Hi there. Very nice and informative video. I have a small rib, 4.5m, with an old mariner 40hp 2stroke. It really really struggles to come to a plane with two (large) people on board, and I would ultimately like to be able to come to a plane easy with 3 people on board. My top speed is 28 knots but I don't really care to go that fast with that small of a boat. My prop is a 13 pitch and I am thinking of going to an 11. Any thoughts? Thank you!
What would you recommend for a 50hp Evinrude
nice, im new to boating here in thailand and learned allot of this video
I have a bass tracker 16.8 with a 50 hp merc. 4 stroke. Running at 4600 ft altitude it only runs about 5000 - 5100 rpm. it has a 12x22 prop. what can I do to get more performance from this boat? Thanks ,Roger
Tom need to ask you a ? Buddy i have a 2006 mercury optimax 150 what is the rotation of the prop ? Thank you for any help
I gained rpm but lost top speed ??? Im wondering if i am down a cylinder??
Very good video ive owned 17or 18 boats so far always used O,E, M. Props prefer Aluminum as a safety feature of sacrificing a prop tp save my outdrive or lower end My preference has been inboard /outboard Mervruiser or Yamaha outboards yet ive had good luck with Nissan/Io gatsu products as well for overall reliability and maintenance although they aren’t the fastest motors in their class they have been a good value to me Ive always stressed the same thing to my freinds about the numbers on props you will. Gain one but lose the other in the process many of my boats hav been Ski boats for myself and my family as A Florida jud Waterskiing was a passion and as i got older i enjoyed a lot of wakeboarding as it was easier on my knees
I’m new in boating. What information do you need from me in order to purchase the right prop? I have an 18 foot pontoon, with a 50 hp 4 stroke motor with a white coloured aluminium prop. How do I order the perfect pitch for my motor? What do you need to know in order to asses my need? Thank you
I have a 93 Johnson 150 outboard engine. What stainless steel propeller do I need and price.
This was great information. I run a mariner 60hp 4 engine on my rib. My boat is like 5.2meters long. What is the best pitch for its size? How can i tell if my engine is a bigfoot or not?
Best prop for a 115 VMax SHO on a rubber boat of 6m? I am normally alone or 2 people max to go SW tuna fishing. thanks
How does ainboard outboard engine rated 170hp@3800rpm compare in relation to propellers vs something like a 170hp@6000rpm outboard compare. Leads me to believe inboard has way more torque down low. So could I push it with a higher pitch vs the outboard?
21ft 96 Wellcraft bow-rider/ 4.3 v6 Mercruiser alpha1, bought it with out a prop. I was gonna use it for up to 8 passengers. At the time I didn't know the motor was locked up, but be nice to know what the ideal prop is for it. Hopefully I can find another power-plant for the project.
so I have a 20' fishing Barge pontoon with an aluminium propeller that has an 11 pitch and 14 inch. this is for a mercury 60hp Bigfoot engine, this is what Bass Pro Shop. Which is the correct propeller for this engine?
Hello, what type (3 or 4 balded) and which pitch (17 or 19) PROP would You recomend for a 1988 Bayliner 2250 Cobra with 5.7 (loaded weight 3KP) it has 260 HP ? I was searching at www for an answer for a long time and looks there is no real one answer. At the moment we do use 3blade 17 pitch and thinking going for 4blade 19pitch - we do think that would save some RPM and fuel consumption at the "cruising range". The question remain, wont we overload the engine ? what would be Your recomendation ? Thank You for Your help. Best regards from Europe.
One of the most informative video, on this channel that I’ve seen in a while.👍👍
Very good video. Just for your information to Forged is the process of hammering a piece of red hot steel. As a blacksmith would hammer out a horse shoe.
Propellers are made in a foundry by melting aluminum or stainless steel and pouring it into a mold.
Many propellers and and hand guns are made in a molding process called loss the wax method or investment casting.
I'm sure there are videos on UA-cam about this process.
Not trying to knit pick
A lot of people are confused with the difference between foundry an forge.
Once again thanks for the great video,
I have a 2017 Sun Tracker 20ft fishing barge and I need to replace my prop. The current prop is eaten up by gravel. This was my “learning” prop, as I’m new to boat ownership. The motor is a 2017 90 ELPT CT 4S with a 16” x 13p p/n: 78114A45. I’m considering moving up to a 14” x 12p p/n: 8M0084491 4 blade prop. The pontoon holds 10 people and I constantly have 10 people, mostly large adults. Do you think that would be a good prop choice?
I currently have a mercury 150 4 stroke with a 14.5 x 19 mercury black max prop. I'm having issues with control at WOT. Chine walking.... I am near the top of the rev range but may have a LITTLE room to go up in RPM. I found a 13 x 18 pitch stainless. I'm wondering if this would help with control? My boat is a 19' bowrider but has a shallow vee. It seems lighter than my old boat which was a 1991 with a 4 cyl 3L Cobra and it was only a 17'. The boat currently does about 52 mph wide open so I probably can afford to lose a few mph.
Hi I have 2008 stingray 185 ls volvo penta sx-a 3 liter 135 hp what is the best propeller ?
Hello what is the best prop for Crownline 185ss 2012 mercury 4.3 tks ?
good morning Tom THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION AND WELL EXPLAINED, I have a 2019 triton 18TRX WITH A 2019 MERCURY PRO XS 200HP AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT PURCHASING A ALUMINUM PROP WHAT WOULD BE YOUR RECOMMENDATION THAT WOULD GIVE ME THE BEST POSSIBLE PERFORMANCE AND HOLE SHOT
Aluminum. No. More like a 24-25 pitch tempest plus would be the best
This is the absolute best presentation I have ever heard on the subject of choosing the right prop & pitch!!
I wish you had been my dealer several years ago... The two I dealt with did not have a clue... :( .. I had to learn the hard way which cost a lot of $$$$ & time. This was a commercial boat also... Which resulted in lost revenue before I finally figured it out myself.
Thank you again for this excellent video!!! :)
Good day to you,for 26ft Pontoon 115Hp Suzuki what propeller you would recomend and what speed your expectation ?
Good information .It is so hard to get folks to understand the truth. Everything is a trade-off in regards to performance. Nailed it. Only caveat OEM Aluminum props are Cast (exactly what process is ??) Liquid metal into a mold is cast. Solid using thermal and mechanical is forged. Those cheap props ? Cheap cast pieces welded together , not sure what to call that. Besides junk.
Wow! Tom, in just the two videos I watched of you (trailer and prop Part I), you have established yourself (and therefore Family Marine) as subject matter experts. You would be my go-to for any purchases or questions. Thank you for continuing to be so responsive in the comments as well. Solid paced voice/tone/articulation makes your videos very easy to follow and understand. Great job!
Great video thanks appreciate it. Going through this process in Oregon with my new boat now. Dealer put a Michigan ballistic 14.75 x 17 on my new Verado 225 with 5800-6400 max RPM specs. Trimmed correctly on initial run we had 5500 max RPM at 43 MPH. I put a Michigan Ballistic 15 x 15 on it and got it up to 5800 RPM. I finally took it to the dealer and had them and Mercury rep take it out for testing. Motor was running properly but they observed that the Verado was running to deep in the water at plane. They raised the motor 2" on the rail to second spot from the top and we went to 6150 RPM and 47 MPH. He also said that the dealer should have installed an OEM Mercury Enertia 15 x 15 prop as well, and that we will have even better performance.
He said Verados don't like to run low in the water. This is all new to me as a new retired boater, thankfully they are addressing it.
True, True, True.
Most often the motor goes in the second hole from the top and Mercury Enertia's are fabulous props
@@FamilymarineboatsMN I LIKE MY REV 4 SOOOOOOO MUCH. NEVER TRIED THE ENERTIA ON THE TRITOON.
@@FamilymarineboatsMN its a bit of a science the dealer needs to know his boats .....some hulls like the motor up a smidge some like it buried depends on the hull and the dealer needs to be familiar with these differences
Very informative....Learned alot.....Well done!!!!
Great info. What prop would you suggest for a mariah davanti with a Mercury 270 v8?
Hi I have a Volvo - Penta 3 blade propeller on a chevy v6 4,3 motor which has a 14.3 x 21 propeller and is 18 ft long bow rider. I want to replace it with a 4 blade propeller to get more torque out of the hole and get it to a plane quicker. I am not concerned with top end so much as I am getting out of the hole faster. What size and pitch would you recommend?
Can you please tell me what type of prop I should use on my Johnson 25 hp ac lightning seahorse?
Hello i have Honda BF90 4 stroke installed on my 24 ft pontoon. I want to ask which propeller dimensions are better for my outboard. 13.8 x 13 4 Blade Mercury spitfire or 13.4 x 15 4 Blade Mercury spitfire ? I drive my pontoon very often loaded with 11 persons.
Some help ?
Curious to know what type of propeller should be on my 2020 Bayliner DX2050? What type of blade 3 or 4 and pitch?
Very informative video!
Wish you were in the Wilmer near me on Mobile Bay, Lower Alabama.
I just bought a 2001 Sea Hunt Escape 200 with a 150HP Yamaha 2 stroke rebuilt in 2010 that has had its 3 blade tips ground off of a Michigan Wheel Ballistic 345931 14-7/8" Diameter, 15 Pitch, Right Hand Turn, 15 Spline Stainless Steel that needs more help than the Trim Tabs can provide getting on a plane.
Hello great info for beginners, got a question , just bought a used 2005 Bayliner 185 ,with MCM 4.3Lt v6 engine and alpha one stern drive , it came without a propeller , what is the factory specified propeller for it and what would you recommend , thank you much , Bob Alabama
Hi, I have Fiberglass boat 5.5 meters 650kg, on it I have Mercury Optimax 115hp, 2008. year with prop 13.25x17. maximum rpm is 5750 at speed 28knots. Can you recommend me another prop to get more speed at 4000rpm, because I ofen use it on that rpm with wife and 2 kids?
Regards
Ok i have a 1988 mako 171 sport with 9o mercury elpto, i run wot 5ooo rpm iam about 33mph, prop is ss prop was 17 repitched to a 15 from what i gather to be able to push alot of weight i feel i need to reprop to get to that 5500rpm motor is 89 mercury elpto thanks for any help?
Hi , I have a 24ft avalon tritoon with a 150 merc efi . we mainly use it at 5500ft elevation and the boat is somewhat loaded down with beach gear. after 3 props i finally got the motor to hit proper RPMS , went from 16 pitch to 13pitch all merc aluminum props , now they gave me a black max 16 " dia x 12 pitch . boat has much better holeshot , but i noticed when i trim it up a little it still ventilates or cavitates but nothing like the 13pitch . The boat does fine with just me and my two daughters , but when i added two extra people and there gear it seemed more noticeable . we mainly use it to pull kids on tubes and cruise around lake with family . top speed is not important. after watching your great video , I'm wondering if i should switch to 4 blade or stainless ? today we are going to use tube and see how this prop does. thank you for your help
Good information -BUT- we have a 350 Magnum. I'd like to see the same video for IOs.
Thank you for the information.. I operate a 24ft fibreglass boat with twin 70HP Tohatsu and need assistance to to 90-100HP . I live in Papua New Guinea.
I liked your video thank you for make it simple to understand what prop good for what
I would like to see if you could recommend the correct propeller for my boat. I have a 24' pontoon approx (1900 lbs) with a 60Hp big foot merc 4 stroke with a 10 pitch (3 people on boat at the time) propeller. It will rev out at 6300 rpm and 15 mph. Looking to go faster and not have to change motor. Possibly change propeller
Please call Jeremy at 320-222-2628
I have a 1979 Johnson 70HP on a 16 Steury Tri-Hull. What would be the best propeller for not only skiers but for cruising
I have a 2004 bryant 200 with alpha one merc with 220 horsepower with wot of 4400 to 4800 what prop would give me best whole shot
What should I use to mercruiser 3.0
Great advice. What about switching from a 3 blade to a 4 blade on a 30hp Johnson that is running a 10x15 3 blade prop. I do alot of small river fishing and need a great holeshot for that skinny water. Normally 2 guys and a livewell full of cats. 1754 Grumman mod v flatbottom
Run a 4 blade... They create more lift quicker
I always looked at props in a very simple way diameter = torque, pitch - top end horsepower, but never knew aluminium flexed so much great video thanks
This kind of knowledge is huge. Thank you for your video.
I need your help. I have a mercury mercruiser 1.7 liters 120 horsepower Diesel engine with alpha 1 gen 2 from 2001. What propeller do you recommend? The boat is a Angler 2100 Walkaround. Please I need your help.
I have a 2005 Bayliner 185 with a 3.0 Mercruiser. What would the optimal propeller be for my boat. Im more concerned about holeshot than top end due to pulling skis
Do you have a tachometer installed on the motor?
I have a 2006 mercury optimax 150 ? What do suggest on a 4 blade ss ? I have a 3 blade it's good just want a 4 blade for rough water heard u have more control with 4 blade true or false ? And if true what size and how much thank you for ur time have a wonderful day and stay safe
At 13:25 you may CALL that a "forged" propeller, but it is in fact a "cast" propeller.
Hi hello I wanna ask you if you can help me with my motor. I have a fiberglass 18ft 1998 Nitro. With a 1998 120hp tracker by Mercury and Manufacture top RPM is 5250
And right now I have a 14 inch 17 pitch and I roughly do top speed of 40-50 mph but I have a lot of problems getting out of the whole a 30 gallon tank on the back and 10gal live well on the back to what prop would you recommend on my motor
What about tilt and trim and checking how the motor is attached to transom?
I have a 18 ft Carolina skiff jvx with a Yamaha f70 2015. What is the ideal propeller for my boat?
Love this, we just sold our marina but still have a shop I really have to upload more videos
I have 4.3 mercury Alfa 1 . And it 1997 Sea Ray open bow rider . Can you tell me what right pitch ? Its a 17 pitch on there. Thank you
What would be good for a mercury 25hp 4 stroke 17 ft aluminum tracker??
I dont even own a boat and i found this pretty damn interesting.
Same here
Same !
A great informative video about props, after thinking i was upgrading to a stainless prop for my mercruiser 3.0Litre with Alpha 1 on a bayliner 190, from having an aluminum prop. I first found that i could not even get on the plane with just 3 people on board, just getting 3600 rpm at full throttle, i was baffled. watched some you tube vids and purchased tabs for my boat that are to help lift it onto plane faster. I got it on plane after 4400 rpm still on low side. but with 6 people it was back to 3600 rpm no chance of getting it on plane. Then prop hit something submerged and wrecked the drive on prop. Now after watching this i am aware that i should have dropped my prop pitch by 2 inches to start with. I think i will be now going back to the aluminum prop and dropping pitch because for my application it is important to get it on the plain as quick as possible for fuel economy top speed isnt whats important. Great vid guys thanks for posting
Hey there John. Did you end up dropping the prop? I’m having the same issue on my 2017 Bayliner vR5 4.5 200Hp mercury. Can plane out with only 2 people sitting in the back. Any luck improving that issue on your boat?
Having to allow for material stiffness between aluminium and stainless steel in selecting pitch is excellent information. Thank you.
thanks you
Thank you for the info. Being new to boating, I didn't know there is so much to choosing the right propeller.
Thanks for taking the time to your share your video and knowledge with us.
It is really appreciated!
I have a 5 mtr. RIB with (x2) 40 hp Enduro outboard motors
(5500- 6000 rpm. max.), both have three blade props 11 3/8 x 12.
The Boats max load capacity is 1 ton and although I am no
way any where near that at all, it seems slightly heavy at the
transom, once she is loaded up with dive gear, since it is very sluggish,
to get up on the plane.
I am looking to increase the power, for towing applications, as
we are doing small salvage operations.
From what you were saying, it seems that a 4 Blade prop is the
way to go, but I have not seen any for this size of motor.
Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks!
Kind Regards!
WOW! Loved the video I feel that i learned quite a bit about props. I have a 20FT Shearwater Center Console. With 3 grown men in the boat, it takes forever to get on plane. With one person it takes about half as long. I had a 19pitch 3 blade prop, someone gave me a 19 pitch 4 blade prop (non oem) They were like 4 blades would get the boat out faster. Low and behold that did not happen. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
What is your motors max rpm based off the manufacturer website? What is the rpm it runs when trimmed with you at full throttle? For every 200 additional rpms available to the max rpm, decrease the pitch by 1. If you carry extra weight often, runt the boat with the that load and check the rpm and go from there. I would stick with a 4 blade, since you add substantial weight and have planing issues. Just remember not to let the boat run past the max rpm.
@@srlewis76, Thanks for the reply. I was able to find a local prop guy. After watching your video. Applying the math to my situation. I figured a rough estimate based on the shop telling me 5900rpm was the max. I have learned not to trust the shops all the time. I went to the manufacturing site and found out that the max was ~6300 RPM at full throttle. The shop just assumed because it would not reach max with the prop that I had on there. I took into account the size and estimated weight of 3 people and gear on the boat. I ended up figuring a 16 or 17 would get the job done. and leave me at about 6000 RPM. Then talking with the prop shop here and showing him a video of a 19 that was on the boat. He said 15 pitch 4 blades and you will hit about 6200. They were spot on. Thank you so much for your video. Without the story about the mercurys on the pontoon boats I would still be 100% lost.
On a 14ft o sulivan marine fishing boat fiberglass in Ireland..